Scottish Poetry Rose Garden: A Hidden Gem in Queen’s Park

Queen’s Park is one of Glasgow’s most famous parks, and situated within the park is the Scottish Poetry Rose Garden. It is one of many hidden gems in Glasgow. 

Once upon a time there used to be a walled garden adjacent to the ‘Camphill Hot House’ in Queen’s Park, but when the building was demolished in 1930 the walled garden was left to ruin! More than three decades later the site was turned in to a rose garden. Fast forward to the start of the 21st Century and the decision was taken to turn the rose garden in to a celebration of Scottish poets.

It was a logical decision – for example, Robert Burns wrote a poem called ‘My love is like a red red rose’, and plenty other poets also make mention of the rose. If Scotland needed a single focus to celebrate Scottish poets, then Queen’s Park seemed an ideal spot.

By 2003 the Scottish Poetry Rose Garden was ready to be unveiled and the ceremonial opening was performed by Her Royal Highness Princess Anne on the 17th of July 2003.

(The entrance to the Scottish Poetry Rose Garden: Image via author)

(The left hand side of the Scottish Poetry Rose Garden: Image via author)

(The right hand side of the Scottish Poetry Rose Garden: Image via author)

(The centre of the Scottish Poetry Rose Garden: Image via author)

(The back entrance of the Scottish Poetry Rose Garden: Image via author)

(Ceremonial rock at the Scottish Poetry Rose Garden: Image via author)

A list of Scottish poets are commemorated at the Scottish Poetry Rose Garden and they are as follows;

• Robert Henryson (1420-1490)
• William Dunbar (1460-1520)
• Gavin Douglas (1474-1522)
• Alexander Montgomery (1545-1598)
• Alastair MacMhaighstir Alasdair (1695-1770)
• Donnachaidh Ban Mac-an-t-Saior (1724-1812)
• Robert Ferguson (1750-1774)
• Robert Burns (1759-1796)
• James Hogg (1770-1835)
• Robert Louis Stevenson (1850-1894)
• Violet Jacob (1863-1946)
• Marion Angus (1866-1946)
• Hugh Mac Diarmid (1892-1978)
• Somhairle MacGille-Eain (1911-1996)
• George Mackay Brown (1921-1996)

Each one is commemorated by a circular stone with their name engraved in to it;

(Robert Louis Stevenson commemorative stone: Image via author)
At the very entrance to the Scottish Poetry Rose Garden is a special commemorative stone that goes some way to justifying the decision to using a rose garden to celebrate Scottish poetry – the Robert Burns stone with the first line of his poem about a rose;